Crutch



NOV. 20, 1951 J, M, PETERS 2,575,681

` cRuTcH Filed March 23, 1948 INVENTOR. der/" y /l/l. Peters Nov. 20, 1951 J. M. PETERS 2,575,681

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` INVENTOR. deffg M. ,Dafa/ws A to/Hays Patented Nov. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRUTCH Jerry M. Peters, Walker, Mo. Application March 23, 1948, Serial No. 16,459

4 Claims. (Cl. 13S- 49) 1 This invention relates to improvements in crutches, including crutches of the foldable type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved crutch which better distributes the weight of the user thereon so that it is less cumbersome and less tiring in use.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of an improved crutch of the above indicated character involving a novel association and arrangement of parts wherein the arm rest on the upper crutch section is angularly displaced laterally inwardly with respect to the lower crutch section, andthe hand grip extending laterally outwardly from the lower crutch section.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved crutch of the above indicated character wherein the upper crutch section can be folded downwardly and be locked in parallelism with the lower crutch section, in such a way that the crutch becomes an eicient and well-balanced cane, and the length of the crutch is substantially reduced for storage and/or shipment.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration only, a specic embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general front elevation of said embodiment, in unfolded position, a right-hand crutch being shown in association with the right hand and arm of a user.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Y Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the inner side of the joint.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the upper crutch section folded down and locked parallel with the lower crutch section.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken through the lower part of the lower crutch section. Figure 6 is a top plan view of the crutch.

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1, showing the adjustment locking spring clip or ring; and

' Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6, showing the padded construction of the arm rest.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated crutch comprises the straight lower section 9 which is adapted to engage the ground I0 in a generally perpendicular position, and the upper section I I which inclines laterally inwardly from the upper end of the lower section at an angle of about degrees when in use, as shown in Figure l, and when folded downwardly, as shown in Figure 4, is parallel to the lower section 9.

'Ihe lower section 9 comprises a straight metal tube I2 having telescoped on its lower end a metal tubular extension I 3 having a wooden plug I 4 inserted in its lower end anchored by a rivet I5 traversing it and the extension, as shown in Figure 5, with a rubber cup-like base I6 secured to the exposed lower part of the plug and telescoped on the lower end of the extension.

The metal tube I2 and the tubular extension I3 are formed with vertically-spaced pairs of transversely aligned bolt holes I1, I'I through which a bolt I8 is adapted to be projected to be clamped by a wing-nut I9, whereby the effective length of the lower section 9 is readily adjusted for proper length.

The outboard side of the upper end of the tube I2 is formed, as shown in Figure 2, with a right angular tubular hand grip extension 20 on which a preferably corrugated rubber grip 2| is secured. The upper end of the tube I2 is closed by a wall 22 which declines somewhat laterally inwardly to act as a stop when engaged, as shown in Figure 2 by the lower end wall 23 of the upper crutch section II. The inboard side of the upper end of the tube I2 is provided with a pair of jointforming lugs or ears 24, 24, which are vertically elongated, so that their upper rounded ends 25, 25 project slightly above the upper end of the tube I2, as shown in Figure 4. These upper end ear portions are concentrically traversed by a pivot pin 26 having preferably rivetted heads 2l, 21 on its opposite ends. On a line parallel with the axis of the tube l 2 and below the pivot pin 26 the lower part of the ears are traversed by a pivot and clamping bolt 28 having a wing-nut 29 on the end opposite the head 30.

The lower end and the inboard side of the upper section I I, like the lower section, formed of metal tubing, have projecting therefrom a single ear or lug 3| for close sliding t between the lugs 24, 24, the lug 3l being generally fan-shaped and working through openings 32 and 33 in the top wall and side wall, respectively, of the upper its upper and lower ends by the pivot 26 whereby it is permanently pivoted to the lower crutch section. In its erect position the lower fanshaped portion is apertured to be traversed by the bolt 28 whereby the upper section is locked and clamped in erect position. The upper lug extension 34 has a bolt hole 35, which receives the bolt 28 in the folded-down position of the upper section il, shown in Figure 4, whereby the sections are locked in parallelism and the crutch is arranged for use as a cane. In this position the bolt hole 33 in the fan-shaped lug portion is exposed above the joint, as shown in Figure 4.

The upper section I l consists of the metal tube 31 open at its upper end to telescopically secure the fore-arm rest shank 38 which has xed on the outboard side of its upper end the U-shaped rest 39 consisting of a metal core 40 and enclosing padding il! of appropriate type. As shown in Figure 1, the general horizontal plane of the restA 32 is parallel to the hand-grip 26.

Means for lockingV the forearm rest lshank. 38 in different vertically adjusted positions comprises a spring ring or clip 42 comprising two arms-43, 43 terminating in inwardly-directed pins 44, 44, the opposite ends of the arms being joined and inwardly spring-tensionedby a bight portion 45 which is curved' to iit the curvature of the in- -board side of the upper section H, as shown in Figures l and 7, with pins 4A, 44 projecting through pairs of transversely aligned holes 46, 46 and 4l, 4l, respectively, provided at vertically spaced intervals in the tube 31 and shank 3B.

What is claimed is:

1. A crutch comprising a straight tubular lower section and a tubular upper section inclined laterally inwardly from the upper part of said lower section, a U-shaped forearm rest projecting laterally outwardly from the upper part of said upper section, a hand grip projecting laterally outwardly from the upper part of said lower section, joint means at the laterally inward side of said crutch comprising an .ear projecting from the upper part of said lower section, a lug projecting laterally from the lower part of said upper section having a portion depending below the lower end. of said upper section alongside of said ear, fixed pivot means pivotally connecting said sections together whereby in an erect position of said upper section the lower end thereof rests upon the upper end of said lower section, and whereby said upper section can be swung downwardly and laterally inwardly from said erect position to a dependent position alongside of said lower section, and clamping means effectively associated with said ear and said lug whereby said upper section can be locked in erect position or in its deupper section, a hand grip projecting laterally outwardly from the upper part of said lower Siec- 'tiorL joint means at the-laterally inward side of said crutch comprising an ear vprojecting from Athe upper part of said 'lower section, a lug projecting laterally from the lower part of said upper section having a portion depending below the lower end' of said upper section alongside of said ear, xed pivot means pivotally connecting said sections together whereby in an erect position of said upper section the lower end thereof rests upon the upper end of said lower section, and whereby said upper section can be swung downwardly and laterally inwardly from said erect position to a dependent position alongside of said lower section, and clamping means effectively associated with said ear and said lug whereby said upper section can be locked in erect position or in its dependent position, said clamping means comprising a clamping bolt traversing said earA and selectively engageable through spaced holes provided in said lug.

3. In a crutch of the type having a lower cane portion formed with a laterally directed hand grip at the top, and an arm supporting portion extending upwardly of the cane portion and mounting a laterally directed arm rest at the upper end, the improvement comprising means connecting said cane and arm supporting portions together, said means comprising an ear fixed to each portion in overlapping relation, pivot` means pivotally connecting said earsv together whereby said-portions are relatively pivotally movable to and from a folded and anextended position, one of said ears being formed with a first hole therethrough in oiset relation to said pivot meanspthe other ear being formed with a second and a third hole therethrough on opposite sides of saidpivot, said second holeregistering with said rst hole with said portions in said folded position, said third hole registering with said first hole with said portions in said extended position, and a pin removably seated in registered holes to lock said portionsin either position.

4. In a crutch of the type having a lower cane portion formed with a laterally directed hand grip at the top, and an arm supporting portion extending upwardly of the cane portion and mounting a laterally directed arm rest at the upper end, the improvement comprising means connecting said cane .and arm supporting portions together, said means comprising an ear xed to one portion, a pair of spaced ears fixed to the other portion, pivot means pivotally connecting all of said ears together with said spaced ears stracldling said first named. ear whereby said portions are relatively pivotally movable to and from a folded and an extended position, said spaced ears being formed with a pair of aligned holes therethrough in offset relation to said pivot means, said first named ear being formed with a second and a third hole therethrough on opposite sides of said pivot, said second hole registering with said aligned holes with said portions in said folded position, said third hole registering with said aligned holes with said portions insaid `extended position, and a pin removably seated in registered holes to lock said portions in either position. y

JERRY M. PETERS.

"REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

